Investigations are under way into how an unmanned police car became involved in a city centre bump with a taxi.

A video clip posted on Facebook by the taxi driver shows his dash-cam footage of the empty patrol car as it appears to roll steadily backwards in his direction.

A pedestrian, apparently oblivious to the approaching danger, is seen crossing the road in what appears to be a narrow miss then the picture wobbles as the taxi itself is hit.

The footage has attracted a huge number of comments on social media, with one man commenting: “Could have been problems with the hand brake?”

The taxi involved is stationary in Newgate Street, Newcastle, when its on-board camera initially picks up the police car pulling in just ahead and stopping just beyond the junction with Clayton Street.

Then two police officers get out, heading off towards Sinners pub.

Next the empty police car begins to roll slowly backwards towards the taxi whose camera captures its approach followed by the inevitable collision which brings it to a stop.

None of the aftermath of the collision is recorded in the clip, which was posted around 3am on Bank Holiday Monday by taxi driver Kevin Trett with the words “Oops!”

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said the officers had been responding to reports of a fight at the time it happened.

The police statement said: “At 1.26am on Monday, January 2, officers in Newcastle responded to a report of two men fighting in the street outside of the Sinners bar in New Bridge Street. Two men were arrested in connection with the incident.

“While dealing with the incident the officers’ vehicle was involved in a minor collision with a taxi in New Bridge Street.

“The police car was undamaged and the taxi sustained very minor damage during the collision.